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THINKS — — 1 ARE ON WRONG TACK. A new rule relative to the bidding up of selling race winners will be put into effect at the Fair Grounds, beginning with the opening of the racing season, says a New Orleans correspondent. Instead of offering the winner by auction immediately after the race, sealed bids, accompanied by the amount bid. will lie taken by the clerk of the scales until fifteen minutes after the finish of the race. In the event of a bid being mtade. the owner will be notified of the amount bid and he will have the privilege of advancing it by to retain his horse. This change in the old procedure, like most other suggested amendments, seems to be based on the principle that the bidder does not want to buy the horse. He is to be allowed only one bid. and whatever that is the owner can top it by five dollars and the case is closed. The present rules in Canada at least furnish ample protection against the bidder who preys on the owners of winners. If any further protection is needed it is against the class of owners who enter their horses too cheaply in such rai-es All the ingenuity of the makers of new rules seem* to be directed away from the general interest, whereas it is only the general interest that should prevail. — Francis Nelson in Toronto Glolie.
